Awapuni trainer Mike Breslin is looking forward to heading to Hawera on Tuesday with a team of five runners, all of whom he expects to put in good showings.
The meeting will be held at the Taranaki track after the scheduled Sunday meeting at Otaki was postponed and transferred following an inspection that found the track surface was not safe for racing.
Breslin believes the current Soft7 reading for the Hawera surface will play into the hands of his team, with several preferring a better winter track as opposed to the bottomless wet ground that can prevail during the colder months.
Breslin is particularly looking forward to three-year-old filly Pleasing (NZ) (Russian Revolution) contesting the Harcourts Otaki Handicap (1200m).
The daughter of Russian Revolution was runner-up over the same distance last start, and Breslin believes she is peaking nicely for Tuesday where she will jump from barrier eight, with apprentice jockey Amber Riddell aboard.
“Pleasing was a very nice second last time and she is ready to win,” Breslin said.
“She is only a three-year-old up against the older horses, but she is maturing nicely and relaxing far better in her work and her races. She has trained on nicely and could be my best chance on the day.”
Breslin is also upbeat about the prospects of Ima Brazen One (NZ) (Brazen Beau) in the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1200m) after also finishing runner-up over 1350m at Wanganui last start.
“Ima Brazen One is quite picky about what track she will perform on,” Breslin said. “She is a real ball of energy, so dropping back to 1200m on Tuesday will suit and, on her day, she is very competitive.
“Joe Doyle will ride her and he is in super form, so if she can go well, there could be black type opportunities for her during this campaign.”
Breslin will also be represented by Sand Point (NZ) (El Roca) in the Vets On Riverbank Maiden (1400m). The El Roca three-year-old kicked off his career with a pair of placings and was fitted for this run when finishing tenth over 1000m at Trentham last month.
“He (Sand Point) is a horse with good talent and he trialled up well before his first-up run,” Breslin said.
“I did expect him to finish a lot closer than he did that day, but the blinkers go on this time and up to 1400m will suit him.
“He is going to win races and I would think he won’t take long to break that maiden status.”
Stablemate Papa Surf (NZ) (Dalghar) will benefit from the two-kilogram claim of apprentice Jim Chung in the Hometown ITM Foxton Handicap (1200m), with Breslin hoping for his usual smart effort when fresh.
“He has won fresh up before and his work lately suggests he is ready to go,” he said.
“He is a tricky horse to place as he doesn’t like the track hard while he also doesn’t like it when it is Heavy 10.
“He is a real character with plenty of ability and Jim gets on really well with him as he rides him in his trackwork as well as on raceday.
“If the track got back to a Soft 6, he would be a good chance.”
Enigmatic galloper Pepeha (NZ) (Darci Brahma) will round out Breslin’s chances in the New World Otaki Handicap (1600m), with the Awapuni trainer expecting a better run than his form on paper suggests.
“Pepeha has the ability but just needs conditions to suit,” he said.
“Last time at Waverley, the track just got too wet with the rain they had all day and when Joe (Doyle) let his head go, he floundered.
“A better track is what he wants and I think he is a sneaky chance.”